The following information on Milk Thistle is from The Encyclopedia of Popular Herbs, Your Complete Guide to the Leading Medicinal Plants.The book was recently published by Prima Health (Copyright 2000).The authors are Robert S. McCaleb, Evelyn Leigh, and Krista Morien.
Dr. Andrew Weil says of the book, "Both practitioners and patients will find this guide to popular herbal remedies useful. It is authoritative and readable." Christopher Hobbs, L.Ac, and renowned herbalist and author says, "Of all the many recent books on herbal medicine, The Encyclopedia of Popular Herbs stands out as the one that is the best blend of evidence-based, rigorously researched herbal medicine, along with specific and practial guidelines for 21st century home health care."
Silybum Marianum Asteracae
Prickly thistles may not be as "approachable" as softer plants, but appearances can be deceiving.Not only does this group of plants contain no poisonous members, but many thistles have the ability to protect our livers against harmful substances, including poisons present in our daily environment.
The thistle that stands out most in this regard is Milk Thistle. This remarkable plant has earned a worldwide reputation as an antioxidant and liver protectant that can even help repair and regenerate injured liver cells.
As the word liver suggests, maintaining the health of this essential organ is key to the overall quality of life. The liver, the body's second largest organ, processes nutrients, drugs, toxins, and any other substance entering the body through the intestines, lungs, or skin. Savvy Europeans have long recognized this, taking Milk Thistle extract as a daily form of health insurance against pollution, over-the-counter drugs such as acetaminophen, and even the self-inflicted damage of overindulgence in rich foods and alcohol. In Germany, Milk Thistle extracts accounted for over $180 million in herb product sales during 1998.
Health practitioners also prescribe Milk Thistle to treat a variety of problems you might not normally connect with liver health, including poor digestion, female hormonal problems, constipation, mood disorders, hemorrhoids, varicose veins, atherosclerosis (hardening and narrowing of the arteries), and skin conditions such as psoriasis and acne. Today, regular use of Milk Thistle extract can be considered a modern necessity every bit as important as a healthful diet, exercise, rest, and the most common vitamin supplements.
TopMilk thistle has been used to support liver health for more than 2,000 years. As early as A.D. 23, Pliny the Elder recommended a mixture of Milk Thistle juice and honey for improving digestion by stimulating the flow of bile. During the sixteenth century, the British herbalist Gerard called Milk Thistle "the best remedy that grows against all melancholy diseases." Melancholy (what we might call depression today) gets its name from the Greek words for "black bile" and was historically treated with liver herbs as well as mood-enhancing plants. During the seventeenth century, British herbalist Nicholas Culpeper prescribed Milk Thistle seeds for jaundice (yellow discoloration of tissues due to excessive amounts of bile), gallstones, and obstructions of the liver and spleen.
Milk thistle became popular in American medicine around the turn of the twentieth century, when the Eclectic physicians (a prominent group of American doctors who practiced at that time) adopted it as a treatment for varicose veins, menstrual problems, and liver and kidney ailments. The plant gradually fell out of favor later in the century - except in Germany, where herbs have always enjoyed widespread acceptance. During the 1970s and 1980s, German scientists began testing the plant to validate its many centuries of application as a liver herb. Today, Milk Thistle is a popular treatment in Germany for many liver problems, including hepatitis and cirrhosis. Intravenous silymarin (a complex of important Milk Thistle constituents) is also a life-saving emergency room treatment used throughout Europe in cases of poisoning.
Like its cousin the globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus), Milk Thistle has a long history as a delicious and nutritious food. When boiled, young Milk Thistle flowerheads look and taste much like a savory artichoke. All parts of the plant are edible, including the roots and young stalks and leaves. To incorporate the benefits of Milk Thistle seeds into your daily diet, herbalist Christopher Hobbs suggests making a seasoning salt by soaking Milk Thistle seeds overnight, draining the water, grinding the seeds into a powder using a coffee grinder, lightly toasting them in the oven, and then mixing them with salt or other spices.1 Milk thistle seeds are high in protein and the essential fatty acid linoleic acid, a healthy fat that can help reduce chronic inflammation, balance the female menstrual cycle, and improve heart health.
TopMilk thistle seeds are approved in the German Commission E Monographs as a supportive treatment for inflammatory liver conditions such as cirrhosis, hepatitis, and fatty infiltration caused by alcohol and other toxins.2
TopHerbalist Michael Moore describes Milk Thistle as "a bulldog with a spiked collar" because of the plant's prickly appearance. The plant grows to heights of 5 to 10 feet and is dangerous looking-right down to the sharp spines on its reddish purple flowers. Milk thistle's common name comes from the white markings on the leaves, its milky white sap, and its traditional use by nursing mothers to increase lactation. The humble plant is closely related to other common thistles, including blessed thistle (Cnicus benedictus), which has similar medicinal properties but is not as well researched.
Milk thistle is native to Europe, southern Russia, Asia, and North Africa. When the English colonists brought it to North America, the plant quickly became a common weed in many parts of the United States. Today, large fields of Milk Thistle are cultivated in Texas and Argentina, with an eye toward developing cultivation methods that yield the highest amounts of silymarin. If you decide to grow Milk Thistle in your own garden, watch out! The plant lives up to its reputation as a weed, spreading easily on its many parachute-like seeds. Milk thistle is an annual or biennial and favors sunny locations and well-drained soils, though it generally tolerates harsher conditions. The seeds can be harvested in July or August after the flowers have blossomed.
TopOne of the best-studied herbs, Milk Thistle has been the subject of more than 300 clinical and laboratory trials. In cases of acute hepatitis, Milk Thistle extract helps people recover more quickly and prevents the condition from becoming chronic. Improvement is often apparent within 5 days, and even greater benefits are seen after 3 weeks. Milk thistle is also useful for treating chronic hepatitis when taken over a period of 3 to 12 months. Studies show that it can help reverse liver cell damage, normalize elevated levels of liver enzymes, and improve symptoms such as abdominal discomfort, decreased appetite, and fatigue. Standard therapy for hepatitis usually involves the drug alpha-interferon, which has many unpleasant side effects, including flu-like symptoms, fatigue, and irritability. Research has also demonstrated that Milk Thistle can slow the advancement of cirrhosis (chronic liver damage) and increase life span in people with cirrhosis, particularly alcoholics.
Preliminary research shows that Milk Thistle may help prevent gallstones by reducing cholesterol levels in the bile. In one study, a daily dose of 420 mg of silymarin taken for I month led to a reduction of bile cholesterol in people with a history of gallstones and gallbladder surgery. 3
Exciting breakthrough research suggests possible antioxidant benefits in another area: non-melanoma skin cancer. A number of preliminary laboratory investigations indicated that silymarin could reduce the rate of tumor formation and tumor size at all three stages of development-initiation, promotion, and complete carcinogenesis. Silymarin's effects were most dramatic in the later stages of skin cancer. Clinical studies are necessary to determine how these results apply to humans. 4
Another area of current research is Milk Thistle's possible anti-allergenic effects. In vitro research indicates that silymarin and silybin may help prevent allergic reactions by inhibiting the release of histamine from mast cells in animals and from blood basophils in humans.
TopSilymarin provided protection against the toxic effects of long-term treatment with psychotropic drugs (used in mental illness) in a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled clinical study of 60 people. Before the study began, all of the participants had been taking the psychotropic drugs phenothiazine or butyrophenone, or both, for at least 5 years. Subjects were divided into four groups for the 3-month trial: group I took psychotropic drugs and a high dose of silymarin (800 mg per day), group 11 took psychotropics with placebo, group III took silymarin only (800 mg per day), and group IV took placebo. Silymarin provided liver protection to group I by reducing blood levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), an indicator of liver damage that increases during long-term treatment with psychotropics. Not surprisingly, the decrease in MDA levels was even greater in the group taking silymarin alone (group III ). Patients in group II continued to experience rising levels of MDA, whereas those who took placebo had declining MDA levels until the psychotropics were reinstated. There were no adverse effects associated with Milk Thistle treatment. 6
Silymarin was just as effective as the bile acid ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in improving symptoms of active cirrhosis in a randomized, controlled, crossover study involving 21 people. During the 6-month trial, subjects took either 420 mg of silymarin or 600 mg of UDCA daily. In the UDCA group, liver function improved significantly, measured as a 30 percent drop in serum aspartate amino transferase (AST) levels and a 22 percent drop in alanine amino transferase (ALT) levels. Serum levels of gamma-glutarnyltranspeptidase (y-GT) also demonstrated a beneficial decline. Those in the silymarin group had a 15 percent drop in AST and a 23 percent decline in ALT levels, with no change in y-GT levels.
During the second half of the study, 20 of the 21 original participants took either combined treatment (UDCA and silymarin) or no treatment. Combination therapy caused a beneficial decrease in liver enzymes over a 12-month period. On the other hand, those who received no treatment experienced a rise in mean levels of serum transminases and y-GT, similar to pretreatment values. No side effects were reported for UDCA or silymarin.
Lastly, researchers tested UDCA in relation to hepatitis C virus (HCV). They found that UDCA was not as effective in lowering ALT and AST levels in people who were positive for anti-HCV antibodies, compared to those who were negative for these antibodies. The researchers concluded that both UDCA and silymarin are safe and effective in treating active cirrhosis of the liver. However, UDCA treatment should be restricted to people who test negative for anti-HCV antibodies. 7
Long-term treatment with silymarin significantly increased survival rates in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 105 people with cirrhosis. Subjects took either 420 mg of silymarin daily or placebo during the study, which lasted for approximately 41 months. Over a 4-year period, the mortality rate in the placebo group was twice that of the silymarin group. Silymarin showed the greatest benefit in those with alcohol-related cirrhosis. There appeared to be no difference in the results of liver function tests (transminases, bilirubin, SGGPT, and other liver enzymes) between the two groups. No side effects were reported.8
TopMilk thistle prevents toxins from entering the liver by guarding the organ's numerous doorways-the membranes of liver cells. By slowing the rate at which the liver absorbs harmful substances, the toxins are excreted through the kidneys before they can cause liver damage.9 The most dramatic example of this is Milk Thistle's ability to block poisons from the deathcap, mushroom (Amanita phalloides), one of the most notorious liver toxins known to humans. In a group of 49 patients with Amanita poisoning, physicians rated the results "amazing" and "spectacular," after patients were given injections (20 mg/kg daily) of silybin, a major constituent in Milk Thistle. All of the patients survived, even though they were treated 24 to 36 hours after poisoning, when liver and kidney damage had already occurred. The death rate in emergency rooms from Amanita poisoning is usually 30 to 40 percent.8 Milk thistle acts in a similar fashion to detoxify other synthetic chemicals that find their way into our bodies, from acetaminophen and alcohol to heavy metals and radiation.9
Much of Milk Thistle's protective effect is due to the flavonoid complex silymarin, which acts as a powerful antioxidant, combining with and thus neutralizing harmful free radicals that result from normal metabolic processes and from the breakdown of toxic substances. At least 10 times as potent as vitamin E, silymarin also helps increase levels of two additional antioxidants, glutathione and superoxide dismutase (SOD).11 A laboratory study showed that silymarin may increase glutathione content in the liver and intestines by up to 50 percent.12 Silymarin also increases the activity of SOD in erythrocytes (red blood cells) and lymphocytes (white blood cells) formed in the lymphatic tissue in patients with liver disease.13 Because silymarin is a potent antioxidant in the stomach and intestines, it may also have a role to play in treating inflammatory conditions such as colitis and ulcers. 14
When damage has already been done, Milk Thistle aids the liver in repairing injured cells and generating new ones. It does this by stimulating protein synthesis through the enzyme RNA polymerase I. Protein is a basic building block of cell walls, cell structures, and enzymes that are vital to all body processes. Recent evidence (molecular modeling) suggests that the constituent silybin may be responsible for stimulating protein synthesis, because it imitates a steroid hormone. Silybin increases protein synthesis by up to 25 to 30 percent, compared with controls.9 Milk thistle's regenerative ability is essential for treating serious conditions such as chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and toxic fatty deposits in the liver.
Recent evidence suggests that silymarin may be just as important for kidney health. Silymarin concentrates in kidney cells, where it aids in repair and regeneration by increasing protein and nucleic acid synthesis. One study showed that it increased cell replication by 25 to 30 percent. 9
Of the many compounds that make up the silymarin complex, silybin and silychristin are the two most potent ones, according to current pharmacological studies.9 Unfortunately, these compounds are relatively poorly absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract. Some studies suggest an absorption rate of just 20 to 50 percent, which explains why it is so important to take standardized Milk Thistle extracts to ensure high concentrations of the active ingredients.15 Some manufacturers claim that combining Milk Thistle with phosphatidylcholine increases absorption. (Note: this is the form found in UltraThistle®.)
TopSilymarin (a flavonoid complex that includes silybin, silychristin and silydianin)
TopMilk thistle has been safely used as a food herb and medicine for centuries.
Side effects: No side effects have been reported during clinical trials. Milk thistle may initially have a mild laxative effect in certain people because of its stimulating effects on bile secretion.2
Contraindications: Milk thistle is considered safe for use during pregnancy and has a long history of use by nursing women.16 People with diabetes who are taking Milk Thistle should carefully monitor their blood glucose and may require reduction in standard antihyperglycemic agents.
Drug interactions: None known.
TopStandardized milk thistle products are strongly recommended to ensure therapeutic levels of silymarin. There is no research on Milk Thistle as a tincture or tea. In any case, Milk Thistle does not make an effective tea because the main constituents do not dissolve easily into water. For maintaining overall health, begin with the full dosage of Milk Thistle for 6 to 8 weeks, followed by a reduction to 280 mg daily. Those with liver problems should continue the full dosage for at least 4 to 8 weeks. Long-term therapy may be required in serious or chronic cases.
Standardized capsules/ tablets: 420 mg silymarin, divided into two to three doses a day
Tincture (unstandardized): 10 to 25 drops up to three times a day
TopMilk thistle is typically standardized to contain 70 to 80 percent silymarin.
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